Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

Reverse lights on in every gear

Old Aug 3, 2017 | 03:53 PM
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Reverse lights on in every gear

Installed a B&M Megashifter and the reverse lights are on no matter what gear I am in when the key is in the ON position... can't seem to figure this one out.
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Old Aug 3, 2017 | 07:42 PM
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From: Meriden, CT 06451
Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: Reverse lights on in every gear

Did you attach the black switch thing with the wires to the shifter? Is it plugged in?
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Old Aug 4, 2017 | 07:06 AM
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Re: Reverse lights on in every gear

Originally Posted by NoEmissions84TA
Did you attach the black switch thing with the wires to the shifter? Is it plugged in?
So there are like 4 "black switch things that come with the kit. One is a relay that has 6 wires, 2 have two wires each and sit on top of each other and are substantially smaller, and there's a small black thing that only has a ground wire attached to it.
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Old Aug 4, 2017 | 07:41 AM
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Re: Reverse lights on in every gear

You've got a switch that used to be on your stock shifter, that was responsible for all the electrical things that happen when you move the shifter... neutral safety sw (prevents the starter from starting unless the shifter is in neutral or park), and of course the reverse light sw.

One of those "black things" is most likely the piece you need. A good place to start would be to find the one that if you put it on the shifter, it gets operated when the shifter is in reverse; and that has terminals that your reverse light sw plug will plug into.

Not all that complicated, really.

I'm gonna assume you found the "black thing" that allows the car to start?
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Old Aug 4, 2017 | 07:43 PM
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From: Meriden, CT 06451
Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: Reverse lights on in every gear

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Old Aug 5, 2017 | 12:10 AM
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Re: Reverse lights on in every gear

Yep, I get it now. Got frustrated and just pulled the reverse lights bulbs, however when I find the time, I'll find the wire that is likely improperly grounded and redo it.

One of the black switches gains contact with the shifter base when thrown into reverse which triggers the reverse lights to come on, but I have bigger fish to fry right now. Will post here with my solution though when I do find time
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Old Aug 5, 2017 | 07:29 AM
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Re: Reverse lights on in every gear

The ground for the reverse lights is at the lights. The on/off switch at the shifter connects power from the fuse box to the wire running to the lights. It is a blue and light green wire. These wires are connected all the time, allowing power to flow to the lights, all the time.
Perhaps the switch simply needs to be adjusted so it turns on and off, instead of on all the time.
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Old Aug 5, 2017 | 10:09 AM
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Re: Reverse lights on in every gear

Originally Posted by MoJoe
The ground for the reverse lights is at the lights. The on/off switch at the shifter connects power from the fuse box to the wire running to the lights. It is a blue and light green wire. These wires are connected all the time, allowing power to flow to the lights, all the time.
Perhaps the switch simply needs to be adjusted so it turns on and off, instead of on all the time.
Wow, great info!
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